William k



(No Model.)

W. K. KIDDER.

SWIMMING APPARATUS.

Patented 'Nov. 29, 1881.

INVENTEIR' Wavy . UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM K. KIDDER, OF NEl/V YORK, N. Y.

SWIMMING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,077, dated November 29, 1881.

Application filed September 24, 1881. (X model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1 WILLIAM K. KIDDER, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Swimming Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,that will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

This invention consists in a swimming apparatus wherein are combined a buoyant equip- 1 5 ment for the upper portion of the human body and a propelling mechanism for attachment to the body, constructed to be operated by the hands or feet, or by both, as hereinafter set forth in detail.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a front view, partly insection. Fig.2is a 1011- gitudinal section on the line 00 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view, showing the arrangement ofthe propeller ropes and springs. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a cap forming an alternative attachment of the apparatus, as hereinafter explained. Fig. 5 is a rear view ofthe truss.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre- 0 sponding parts.

The letter A designates a series of bands or straps adapted to be fastened to the upper portion of the human. body and supporting two side floats, B, thus forming what is, commonly known as a life-preserver.

G designates a waistband, usually having connected thereto a crotch-band, O, and serving to support the propellerwheels D D D and mechanism upon the body. This waist- 0 band C and crotch-band O are connected together at the back by a cord, 0 (see Fig. 5,) passing through loops at the ends of the waistband, and also through loopsin the crotch-band, the whole forming a truss.

The propeller-wheels D D D are arranged at the ends of a T-shaped frame, E E, and connected to bevelgear having in turn connected thereto hand-ropes F and foot-ropes G, for imparting thereto and thence to the propeller-wheels a revolving motion. The said bevel-gear consists of a cog-wheel, 5, fixed to one end of a shaft, 6, which extends through the longitudinal member E of the propellerframe, and to the opposite end of which is fixed the propeller-wheel I); further, of two cogwheels, 7, geared with the wheel 5 and fixed to one of the ends of the shafts 8, which extend outward through the two limbs E of the transverse member of the propeller-frame, and to the other or outer ends of which are fixed cog-wheels 9; and, further, of cog-wheels 10, geared with the wheels 9, and fixed to one of the ends of shafts 11,to the other endsof which are fixed the propeller-wheels D D respectivel y.

Both the hand ropes or straps F and foot ropes or straps G are connected to the ropes or straps H, Fig. 3, by windlasses I, which are fixtures ot' the cog'wheels 7, and if the ropes F G are alternately pulled to and fro, the windlass ropes H' are alternately wound and unwound, thus giving motion to the bevel-gear and the propellingwheels. The motion thus produced, however, is in reverse directions, and in order to adapt the 'iropeller-wheels D D D to act continuously in the one and the same direction, they are constructed to bereversed automatically, as hereinafter explained.

The hand-ropes F are provided with handles 13, and the foot-ropes G with pedals 14, while both sets of ropes are provided with retractile springs 15 or l6-that is to say, the springs 15 of the hand-ropes have a tendency todrawthe same in an upper direction, and the springs 16 ot' the foot-ropes to draw the same also in an upper direction, so that by these springs the operation of the ropes is materially facilitated by being kept continuously strained.

The limbs E of the propellerframe are secured to a plate, J, covering the windlasses, by screws 18 or other suitable means, and are thus rendered detachable, so that, if desired, the pro peller-wheels D D may be omitted, and in 0r der to permit the ready application of these parts the shafts S are providedwith coupling clutches 17.

The plate J is hinged or otherwise attached to a box, J, which is detachable and adjusta= bly connected to a bracket, K, (see Fig. 2,) which is a fixture of the waistband C.

When the limbs E are detached for the pur pose of dispensing with the propeller Wheels D D the plate J can be renamed and a cap, Fig. 4:, be substituted therefor, if desired.

The limbs E of the propeller-frame, moreover, are connected to the longitudinal limbs E thereof by hinge-joints 19, while the limb last named is made in sections, which are con nected together by a hinge-joint-,20, so that-the frame is adapted to be folded together, thus bringing the whole into a small compass, the shaft 6 also being provided with a clutch, 23, Fig. 3.

The propeller-wheels 1) D D are composed of blades 21, which are swiveled to a head, 22, allowing them to change their positions, and provided with suitable stops for determining the positions thereof. The particular construction of these wheels, however, forms no part of my present invention, and I reserve the right to make the same the subjectmatter of separate applications.

Floats N, of cork or other suitable material, are connected to the limbs E of the propellerframe to co-operate with those of the life-preserver, said floats N being preferably made flexible.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

the hand ropes or straps, and the foot ropes or straps, for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the life-preserver, the propeller-wheels, the propeller-frame constructed with the detachable liinbs E, the bevel-gear acting on the propeller-wheels, the hand ropes or straps, and the foot ropes or straps.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the life-preserver, the propeller-wheels, the propeller frame, the bevelgear acting on the propeller- Wheels, the hand ropes or straps, the foot ropes or straps, the hand-rope springs, and the foot-rope springs.

In testimony that I claimthe foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 2 2diday of September, 1881. 1

WILLIAM K. KIDDER.

Witnesses:

I FRANCIS CLARE BOWEN,

EDGAR GARRETSON. 

